Four railfans - Pawan Koppa, Shishir Jairam, Shreesha Jairam, and Santosh Kulkarni set out on a trip to explore the newly constructed, but a very old route between Mysore and Chamarajanagar. The town Chamarajanagar is named after the great Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar (1774-1796). Though this line has been converted to BG, the rustic settings and a serene environment brings back the memories of the old MG route that the Maharajas' of Mysore used for hunting many, many years back. A must cover route for all railfans.
Another wayside station - Narasambudhi reflects an old world charm - one gate signal, trees all around and a few passengers waiting to hop on! 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
All set to depart from Narasambudhi! 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
For a change, the hero of IR takes a break and becomes a child again as he enjoys the world passing by without a heavy burden on his able shoulders. (Pawan Koppa)
This tree grows so huge that one cannot spot the station board completely! Location- Chinnadagudihundi(the Kannada translation means an offering box in a temple made of gold). 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
Nothing has changed except the train in Chinnadagudihundi. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
We enter Nanjangud town with its temple styled station building. A bulk of the crowd on this route enters/departs at this station. The reason being a famous Shiva temple located nearby. Nanajangud town. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
Look at the heavy crowd ready to board the train at Nanjangud town. 2010-06-20.Compare this to http://www.irfca.org/gallery/GeneralScenes/station_scenes/PICT0359.JPG.html and http://www.irfca.org/gallery/GeneralScenes/station_scenes/PICT0358.JPG.html to g
The 203SW negotiates a curve to cross the new Kabini bridge. The river is unusually dry for this time of the year. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
The tourism project on the old Kabini bridge looks to be shelved completely as the sad state of affairs of the MG rake, railbus and line reflect. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
The old MG Rail bus on the bridge over river Kabini (Sant Kulk)
A huge banyan tree provides a canopy to the 1 hour late running 214 Tirupati-Chamarajanagar Fast passenger as it waits for a crossing with our 203SW passenger bound to Mysore at Kadakola. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
Starter caution, advanced proceed and a vendor walking across the tracks. One day in the life of IR! (Pawan Koppa)
A river made of oil! Indeed. This is what this river means in Kannada. There was hardly a drop of oil, oops water in it though! 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
A restricted view of the Ashokapuram workshop which maintains all rakes of the Mysore division in pristine condition. 2010-06-20. (Pawan Koppa)
We finish thetrip in a grand style UBL WDP4's 20007 and 20026 haul the Shatabdi Express back to SBC. (Shishir Jairam)